audio:

[charring]

[Charlie doesn't sound much like herself right now. Unless someone knew her well, then they'd recognize the calm, even tone she used when something was Serious and she was at her limit.]

The Dragon is closed until further notice. Stay safe. Stay away from the Dragon.

[There's crashing behind her, angry shouts and thumps and the sounds of things being slammed around. And then a gravelly, slurred voice speaks.

"Your dad plays a mean game of Golf, Charlie..."

From the sudden sounds, Charlie's fumbled the device and the video kicks on long enough to show the interior of the Dragon's kitchen and a pale, slightly rotted man approaching. He looks as though he's been dead for a couple weeks, at least, and there's a leaking bullet hole in the middle of his forehead. He speaks again, reaching slowly for Charlie who's backing away carefully.

"Your...fault, Charlene. Your fault. We just wanted to help. You're ours, Charlene. We made you."]

You're still a god damn liar, Hollister.

[Charlie's still calm when she speaks, despite how pale her skin has gone and the look of 'oh shit' on her face and the feed from the device wavers instantly, a sign that things are going to get very hot, very fast.

The man is engulfed in flames a moment later and the feed shuts off as Charlie's hand wraps around a frying pan and she swings.]


[ooc: charlie's taking care of hollister at the dragon and will be hurrying immediately home after. if anyone wants help with their ghouls, let me know! charlie's good for fire, at the very least. rainbird will come later.]

Comments

[steleheart]

Charlie? [ Worried sounding. ] Oh god, are you okay?

[charring]

Clary. Are you safe? I'm fine. I got this.

Just...are you safe somewhere?

[steleheart]

I'm fine.

[ She's already helped Jace kill her best friend, nothing could be worse. ] I ... my boyfriend knows how to deal with this kind of thing. I'm okay.

[charring]

That's a good thing. [She sighs, running her free hand over her face for a moment. The frying pan comes into view for a moment and it's...gross. Better left at that.]

If you guys need help, let me know, okay?

[steleheart]

Okay, okay.

[ Gently. ] If you need us, y'know, we'll come. We have weapons.

[charring]

Do you have a gun I can borrow? I left my sword at home.

I should make it a point to carry that everywhere.

[steleheart]

Jace doesn't really use guns. But if you need someone to help you get back?

[charring]

That would be helpful, yeah.

I knew that man, Clary. He was an asshole of the highest degree. Is it bad I had no problem killing...whatever that was?

[steleheart]

No.

[ She's already heading to the Jasmine Dragon, knows she'll be fine this time round. ] We had to kill my best friend last night.

[charring]

[Clary, you're amazing. Charlie won't say another word until Clary gets to the Shop. She'll be sweeping up still slightly smoldering ashes and it probably smells funny in here now so the windows are open. And Charlie'll still be pale and look a bit tired. But she's fine.]

[steleheart]

[ She comes bursting in, Jace's dagger in hand. ]

Oh good, you're okay.

[charring]

For now. I locked a few of them in the freezer.

[Which is gross. She drops the broom, just staring at the pile of ash with a frown.]

We should just go. I need to get to Merlin.

[oceantrauma]

Charlie-san! You didn't go out, did you? Are you okay?

[charring]

I had to make sure people were safe.

[And find Hollister, keep him away from her home and her family.]

[oceantrauma]

.... [It's the same sort of thing he would do, if he could. But this is one time Ken really can't manage without Wormmon.]

I understand that. But you should be here, with us.

[charring]

Clary's helping me home. Stay with Merlin and Arthur, okay? I'll be there soon. I promise.

[oceantrauma]

[He doesn't look satisfied with that.] Alright. [But he'll do as she said to, remembering what happened the last time he went out in a situation like this.]

[charring]

[She understands. She's not happy with a lot of what's going on right now.]

How are things at home, Ken? Anything there I should worry about?

[oceantrauma]

No. Things are fine here.

[For once, he can be honest about that. No need for her to worry about anything else.]

[steleheart]

[ She nods, holds the door open to look out into the open to see if there are any of them out there. ]

Okay.

[Video]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[ lksdhgsfhjkj ]

Charlie! Stay right there if you can, I'm coming over.

[Video]

[charring]

I'm not staying here. There's a few locked in the freezer. What if they get out? Clary and I'll meet you halfway.

[Video]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Okay. That's fine.

Don't worry.

[charring]

Good. Good. Okay. Stay there. I'll see you soon.

Re: [Video]

[charring]

I love you, Merlin. I'll see you soon. Are you home? I don't want Ken home alone right now.

[charring]

[Charlie peeks out as well, frowning as she takes in as much detail as she can. There's a yell from their left and Charlie turns but sees nothing.]

Head right. We should just avoid this, if we can.

[oceantrauma]

Good. [He's waiting by the door.]

[steleheart]

Okay.

[ She twists and follows Charlie down the route, hands still holding on to the blade in a death like grip. ]

[Video]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

I-- He's not alone, don't worry.

I love you too.

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

Charlie? Are you.. alright?

Re: video;

[charring]

No. [This is just too much right now. Why did the video have to go public? She's stronger about this kind of thing when no one actually sees it.] He looked like someone I know to be dead.

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

[He frowns but seems unsure of what to say. What do you say in a situation like this? Things like this aren't supposed to happen]

.. I'm sorry.

Re: video;

[charring]

Why do they have to look like people we know? Why can't they just be faceless zombies?

action: for ken, merlin and clary.

[charring]

[The last bit of the trek home had consisted of running, burning and trying to destroy whatever tried to harm them. It was harrowing, nerve-wracking and upsetting. Charlie wasn't sure her heart was going to stop pounding.

Her house, though, her home with Merlin and Arthur and Ken and all of their animals was a welcome sight and the door was slammed open before the pets knew what was happening.

Once everyone was safe inside, Charlie shut and locked the door, sliding down it as her knees finally gave out.]

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

You know the deities.

[oceantrauma]

[Seeing her slip to the floor as she did, Ken hurried to Charlie's side. His hands are covered in bandages - he tried.]

Are you alright?

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[ Ken isn't the only one who's rushing To The Rescue, either. Merlin doesn't try to pull her up, but he moves an arm around her in case she decides to try, so he could help. And to rub a soothing hand over her shoulders and the back of her neck. ]

It's okay. We're all right now.

Re: video;

[charring]

Have you run into anyone you shouldn't have?

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

Just a few soldiers from back home. No one significant, thank god.